Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 5

April 23, 2023

Nicklaus Gaut's fantasy baseball H2H points league waiver wire hitters to pick up for Week 5 of the 2023 MLB season, identifying free agents batters to add.

Welcome to Week Five and our fantasy baseball waiver wire hitters. We'll be doing this roundup of points leagues every week here at RotoBaller, with waiver wire targets being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems of ESPN, Yahoo!, CBS, and Fantrax.

Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform, so we'll make sure to highlight where players are the best and worst fits. We know points league players get neglected and we're here to help.

These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of April 17th - April 23rd, looking at players below ~50% rostered for ESPN, Yahoo!, or Fantrax. Position eligibility is taken from Fantrax and players are grouped by their most valuable fantasy position, using a hierarchy of: C > 2B > OF > 3B > 1B > SS. Stats and rankings for charts are calculated using games through Friday, April 21.

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Know Your Scoring System

You'll likely find a suitable mirror to your own system if you look above. While every point counts, as long as they aren't seismic changes, you can get away with some "close enough" calls. IE. You're probably fine if everything is the same except for HBP (or something similar).

Week 5: Waiver Wire Leaderboards

All charts are updated prior to Saturday's games, on stats and ownerships, and clicking on a chart will open a new page with a magnified version. Players on overall leaderboards are ordered according to their current Roster% on Yahoo. All injury information is sourced from RosterResource at FanGraphs.com.

*APR = Average Platform Ranking - the average platform ranking between ESPN, CBS, Yahoo, Fantrax, and NFBC (standard point settings)

Overall Leaderboards

First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Lourdes Gurriel Jr., ARI, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 10%) - Gurriel has a 62 APR over the past two weeks, and has a .372 wOBA and .391 xwOBA over the past 10 days. With three games at Coors this week, he's easily one of the best adds on the wire, particularly in leagues with a strikeout penalty.

Spencer Steer, CIN, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 5%) - Only two home runs on the season but Steer has still been productive, slashing .304/.403/.482, with an excellent 16.4% K% and 13.4% BB%. Week Five lines up strong for the right-hander, getting three games at home and facing three LHP. Since the start of last season, Steer has a .434 wOBA and 20% K% vs LHP.

Harold Ramirez, TB, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 15%) - Ramirez has a top-100 APR for the year but his playing time has also been more steady lately for the always fickle Rays, getting the start in six of the last seven. And as well he should be; Ramirez is slashing .373/.429/.667 over 56 PA, with a 12.5% K%, .469 wOBA, and 213 wRC+.

Carlos Santana, PIT, 1B (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 19%) - Classic under-the-radar points compiler; plays every day, bats in the middle of the order, gets on base, and doesn't strike out. Santana has a 60 APR over the past two weeks, an 80 APR for the season, and is top-75 on every platform except NFBC (122 APR).

Next Choices

Garrett Cooper, MIA, 1B (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 12%) - Cooper keeps getting hits (and playing time) but a .280 AVG over the past 10 days being matched by a .280 SLG tells you just how empty it's been.

Wil Myers, CIN, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 9%) - Since hitting two home runs on April 15th, Myers is 1-for-18 but will get three games at home and three against the hapless Oakland (/Vegas) roster.

Connor Joe, PIT, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 4%) - Joe has been on fire and Pittsburgh has rewarded him with more playing time, giving him the start in six straight games. He's slashing .351/.429/.703 over his last 10 games and now has a 47 APR for the season.

Desperate Choices

Gio Urshela, LAA, 1B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 29%, ESPN: 7%) - Urshela's profile is as boring as ever but his plate discipline and nearly everyday role near the middle of the Angels order can make him useful as a fill-in. And this is as good of a week, as any, with Los Angeles set to face an LHP in three of their seven games.

Josh Naylor, CLE, 1B (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 46%) - If you ascribe the school of "he's due", then you may as well bet on Josh Naylor, who only has one hit in his past 41 PA. But he still plays every day in the middle of a good order, doesn't strike out, and walks a lot, so perhaps you should stream the dip to try and catch the bounceback.

On the IL

• Seth Brown, OAK, 1B/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Ji-Man Choi, TB, 1B (strained Achilles - expected to miss two months)

Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Rodolfo Castro, PIT, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 3%) - Castro has seemingly taken over the majority of time at shortstop in the absence of Oneil Cruz, starting there in 10 of the 13 games since Cruz was injured. However, he also does most of his damage vs LHP, with a nearly 400-point advantage in OPS against them in 2023 and a .402 wOBA against them since the start of last season, compared to a meager .293 wOBA vs RHP. The Pirates are scheduled to face lefties in only two of their six games in Week Five but one of them is Patrick Corbin, so that should count triple, right?

Next Choices

Enrique Hernandez, BOS, 2B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 10%) - Hernandez is locked into a full-time role (combined at 2B, SS, and CF) and now has a 79 APR for the season and a 40 APR over the past two weeks. But he's also much better vs LHP (since the start of 2022: .336 wOBA vs LHP, .269 wOBA vs RHP), and the Red Sox aren't scheduled to face any in their six games (@ BAL, vs CLE) in Week Five.

Jon Berti, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 47%, ESPN: 6%) - Berti has a 97 APR over the past two weeks but even in points his value is still tied to how much he runs and he's been erratic in that department, so far. After stealing four bases in five games, Berti has now gone five games without an attempt.

Mauricio Dubon, HOU, 2B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 12%) - Like Hernadez, Dubon has also been hot, posting a 39 APR over the past two weeks while batting leadoff for seven straight games. But also like Hernandez, he's much better vs LHP (.348 wOBA since the start of 2022 vs a .228 wOBA against RHP) and will only face one starter in Week Five. However, that batting slot is still a really juicy slot and Dubon's floor is still high enough if you're in a pinch, especially if your league penalizes strikeouts.

Elvis Andrus, CHW, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 14%, ESPN: 3%) - Andrus has been mediocre on the whole but does get seven games in Week Five and is scheduled to face three left-handers. Since the start of last season, Andrus has a .354 wOBA vs LHP and a .284 wOBA vs RHP.

Desperate Choices

Ji Hwan Bae, PIT, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 4%) - Bae hasn't done much lately, running a .277 wOBA and 28% K% over the past 10 days, and has seen his playing time dip some as of late, taking a seat in two of Pittsburgh's last four games.

Taylor Walls, TB, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 18%) - Walls has three home runs in four games but don't expect this power burst to continue. His carrying tool is still the glove and playing time should continue to be part-time.

Nick Maton, DET, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - Maton has sat in three of Detroit's games vs a left-hander but has also now led off in his last seven games. Unfortunately, leading off for the Tigers isn't that big of a value bump, and Maton's 26% K% won't do him any favors in leagues with a strikeout penalty.

On the IL

• Luis Urias, MIL, 2B/3B/SS (strained hamstring - 6 to 8 weeks)
• Kyle Farmer, MIN (facial laceration - no timetable)
• Joey Wendle, MIA, 2B/3B/SS (strained oblique - no timetable)

Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Spencer Steer, CIN, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 5%) - Only two home runs on the season but Steer has still been productive, slashing .304/.403/.482, with an excellent 16.4% K% and 13.4% BB%. Week Five lines up strong for the right-hander, getting three games at home and facing three LHP. Since the start of last season, Steer has a .434 wOBA and 20% K% vs LHP.

Rodolfo Castro, PIT, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 3%) - Castro has seemingly taken over the majority of time at shortstop in the absence of Oneil Cruz, starting there in 10 of the 13 games since Cruz was injured. However, he also does most of his damage vs LHP, with a nearly 400-point advantage in OPS against them in 2023 and a .402 wOBA against them since the start of last season, compared to a meager .293 wOBA vs RHP. The Pirates are scheduled to face lefties in only two of their six games in Week Five but one of them is Patrick Corbin, so that should count triple, right?

Evan Longoria, ARI, 3B (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) - *Attention* This isn't a full-week play; you're looking to stream Longoria for two games, and two games only, so it won't fly in leagues with weekly moves only. Bu-uut...Currently, in a short-side platoon at third base, Longorio will almost certainly get the two starts in Coors over the weekend against left-handers, Kyle Freeland and Austin Gomber. Longoria might be getting long in the tooth but can still smack lefties; he has a .450 wOBA and 180 wRC+ against them in 2023, with a 1.033 OPS and .211 ISO.

Next Choices

Jake Burger, CHW, 3B (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 3%) - Burger has started eight games in a row, hitting four home runs and slashing .273/.370/.864 over those 27 PA. He also has a .481 wOBA vs LHP since the start of 2022 and the White Sox are scheduled to face a leftie in three of their seven games this week.

Jon Berti, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 47%, ESPN: 6%) - Berti has a 97 APR over the past two weeks but even in points his value is still tied to how much he runs and he's been erratic in that department, so far. After stealing four bases in five games, Berti has now gone five games without an attempt.

Desperate Choices

Gio Urshela, LAA, 1B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 29%, ESPN: 7%) - Urshela's profile is as boring as ever but his plate discipline and nearly everyday role near the middle of the Angels order can make him useful as a fill-in. And this is as good of a week, as any, with Los Angeles set to face an LHP in three of their seven games.

Taylor Walls, TB, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 18%) - Walls has three home runs in four games but don't expect this power burst to continue. His carrying tool is still the glove and playing time should continue to be part-time.

Nick Maton, DET, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - Maton has sat in three of Detroit's games vs a left-hander but has also now led off in his last seven games. Unfortunately, leading off for the Tigers isn't that big of a value bump, and Maton's 26% K% won't do him any favors in leagues with a strikeout penalty.

On the IL

• Yoan Moncada, CHW, 3B (lower back - no timetable)
• Luis Urias, MIL 2B/3B/SS (strained hamstring - 6 to 8 weeks)
• Josh Donaldson, NYY (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Kyle Farmer, MIN (face laceration - no timetable)
• Joey Wendle, MIA, 2B/3B/SS (strained oblique - no timetable)

Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Rodolfo Castro, PIT, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 3%) - Castro has seemingly taken over the majority of time at shortstop in the absence of Oneil Cruz, starting there in 10 of the 13 games since Cruz was injured. However, he also does most of his damage vs LHP, with a nearly 400-point advantage in OPS against them in 2023 and a .402 wOBA against them since the start of last season, compared to a meager .293 wOBA vs RHP. The Pirates are scheduled to face lefties in only two of their six games in Week Five but one of them is Patrick Corbin, so that should count triple, right?

Next Choices

Enrique Hernandez, BOS, 2B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 10%) - Hernandez is locked into a full-time role (combined at 2B, SS, and CF) and now has a 79 APR for the season and a 40 APR over the past two weeks. But he's also much better vs LHP (since the start of 2022: .336 wOBA vs LHP, .269 wOBA vs RHP), and the Red Sox aren't scheduled to face any in their six games (@ BAL, vs CLE) in Week Five.

Jon Berti, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 47%, ESPN: 6%) - Berti has a 97 APR over the past two weeks but even in points his value is still tied to how much he runs and he's been erratic in that department, so far. After stealing four bases in five games, Berti has now gone five games without an attempt.

Mauricio Dubon, HOU, 2B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 12%) - Like Hernadez, Dubon has also been hot, posting a 39 APR over the past two weeks while batting leadoff for seven straight games. But also like Hernandez, he's much better vs LHP (.348 wOBA since the start of 2022 vs a .228 wOBA against RHP) and will only face one starter in Week Five. However, that batting slot is still a really juicy slot and Dubon's floor is still high enough if you're in a pinch, especially if your league penalizes strikeouts.

Elvis Andrus, CHW, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 14%, ESPN: 3%) - Andrus has been mediocre on the whole but does get seven games in Week Five and is scheduled to face three left-handers. Since the start of last season, Andrus has a .354 wOBA vs LHP and a .284 wOBA vs RHP.

Desperate Choices:

Gio Urshela, LAA, 1B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 29%, ESPN: 7%) - Urshela's profile is as boring as ever but his plate discipline and nearly everyday role near the middle of the Angels order can make him useful as a fill-in. And this is as good of a week, as any, with Los Angeles set to face an LHP in three of their seven games.

Taylor Walls, TB, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 18%) - Walls has three home runs in four games but don't expect this power burst to continue. His carrying tool is still the glove and playing time should continue to be part-time.

Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, SS (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 8%) - Perdoma has a 78 APR for the year but will likely sit for two of their three games in Colorado, with left-handers scheduled.

On the IL

• Luis Urias, MIL 2B/3B/SS (strained hamstring - 6 to 8 weeks)
• Kyle Farmer, MIN (face laceration - no timetable)
• Joey Wendle, MIA, 2B/3B/SS (strained oblique - no timetable)

Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Bryan De La Cruz, MIA, OF (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 3%) - De La Cruz seems to officially have a handle on a full-time job, having started the last 12 games, with a .379 AVG over the past 10 days. And as I watch the second half of the Marlins double-header on Saturday, I'm happy to report that he just ripped his second double of the game in the fifth inning, giving him four extra-base hits so far in the double dipper... And as I continue watching, he smacks another double in the seventh, adding a stolen base, to boot. De La Cruz would finish Saturday's double bill going 5-for-9, with four doubles and a home run. Please, me and my near-100% exposure are begging you - let it be happening. Please.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr., ARI, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 10%) - Gurriel has a 62 APR over the past two weeks, and has a .372 wOBA and .391 xwOBA over the past 10 days. With three games at Coors this week, he's easily one of the best adds on the wire, particularly in leagues with a strikeout penalty.

Esteury Ruiz, OAK, OF (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 11%) - Ruiz has hit his way out of Oakland's nine-hole, batting leadoff in each of their last six games. And he's starting to run, with three of his five stolen bases coming in the past six games.

Andrew McCutchen, PIT, OF (Yahoo: 49%, ESPN: 31%) - You'd think McCutchen wouldn't still be hanging around here after hitting three home runs in four games and posting a 49 APR for the season, yet here he is.

Harold Ramirez, TB, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 15%) - Ramirez has a top-100 APR for the year but his playing time has also been more steady lately for the always fickle Rays, getting the start in six of the last seven. And as well he should be; Ramirez is slashing .373/.429/.667 over 56 PA, with a 12.5% K%, .469 wOBA, and 213 wRC+.

Jorge Soler, MIA, OF (Yahoo: 25%, ESPN: 11%) - Soler has finally started showing what the Marlins paid him for, with five home runs in 2023 and a .267/.343/.633 slash line over his first 67 PA. More impressive, for point league reasons, is that a 21% K% is a far cry from the 29% K% he ran last season. But a 12.6% SwStr% says he's still more of a ~25% kind of player.

Next Choices

Kerry Carpenter, DET, OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - He should get six starts in Week Five since the Tigers are only scheduled to face one LHP and has hit three home runs in his past seven games, posting a .373 wOBA. Plus, he'll get out of Comerica for one series, getting three games in Milwaukee, a great park for left-handed power.

Brent Rooker, OAK, OF (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 7%) - Rooker hasn't gone deep since hitting four home runs in three games but has still been getting on base, slashing .286/.474/.357, with a 26% BB% and 5% K%. Playing in Oakland will limit production but he's useful as a fill-in until he cools down.

Enrique Hernandez, BOS, 2B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 10%) - Hernandez is locked into a full-time role (combined at 2B, SS, and CF) and now has a 79 APR for the season and a 40 APR over the past two weeks. But he's also much better vs LHP (since the start of 2022: .336 wOBA vs LHP, .269 wOBA vs RHP), and the Red Sox aren't scheduled to face any in their six games (@ BAL, vs CLE) in Week 5.

Jon Berti, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 47%, ESPN: 6%) - Berti has a 97 APR over the past two weeks but even in points his value is still tied to how much he runs and he's been erratic in that department, so far. After stealing four bases in five games, Berti has now gone five games without an attempt.

Wil Myers, CIN, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 9%) - Since hitting two home runs on April 15th, Myers is 1-for-18 but will get three games at home and three against the hapless Oakland (for now) roster.

Joey Wiemer, MIL, OF (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 2%) - The Brewers are scheduled to face four LHP in Week Five, against whom Weimer has a .518 wOBA and 15% K% against, compared to a .225 wOBA and 23% K% vs RHP.

Jurickson Profar, COL, OF (Yahoo: 14%, ESPN: 13%) - Sometimes all you need is someone who bats leadoff every day and will have three games at Coors

Mauricio Dubon, HOU, 2B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 12%) - Like Hernadez, Dubon has also been hot, posting a 39 APR over the past two weeks while batting leadoff for seven straight games. But also like Hernandez, he's much better vs LHP (.348 wOBA since the start of 2022 vs a .228 wOBA against RHP) and will only face one starter in Week Five. However, that batting slot is still a really juicy slot and Dubon's floor is still high enough if you're in a pinch, especially if your league penalizes strikeouts.

Mark Canha, NYM, OF (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 8%) - He's very boring but Canha still has a 106 APR for the year and an 88 APR over the past two weeks. But his expected stats also point to better ball-striking than his results have shown - Canha's .214 AVG has a .217 BABIP and .282 xBA, while his .315 wOBA is backed by a .385 xwOBA.

Connor Joe, PIT, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 4%) - Joe has been on fire and Pittsburgh has rewarded him with more playing time, giving him the start in six straight games. He's slashing .351/.429/.703 over his last 10 games and now has a 47 APR for the season.

Desperate Choices

Trent Grisham, SD, OF (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 7%) - As expected, Grisham's leadoff spot is long gone with the return of Fernando Tatis Jr. With San Diego only playing five games this week (with two vs LHP), Grisham is a much more desperate play than he was a week ago.

Jack Suwinski, PIT, OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 2%) - Suwinski was as hot as anyone last week but has come back to earth since coming home from Coors, collecting just one hit in his past three games - though, it was a home run.

Lane Thomas, WSH, OF (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 5%) - I've said it a million times (or at least a dozen); Lane Thomas is mostly only useful vs LHP, with a .291 wOBA vs RHP since the start of last season. Facing right-handers in their past eight games, Thomas slashed .200/.219/.267, with a .213 wOBA and 27 wRC+. But hey! He will see a leftie in two of Washington's six games in Week Five.

Ji Hwan Bae, PIT, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 4%) - Bae hasn't done much lately, running a .277 wOBA and 28% K% over the past 10 days, and has seen his playing time dip some as of late, taking a seat in two of Pittsburgh's last four games.

Alek Thomas, ARI, OF (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 2%) - Thomas still really struggles vs LHP (.053/.100/.053, 30% K%, -59 wRC+) but has still been getting at-bats against them, starting in center field for 16 of the past 17 games. Arizona is scheduled to face two of them in Week Five but at least they'll come at Coors.

Nick Maton, DET, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - Maton has sat in three of Detroit's games vs a left-hander but has also now led off in his last seven games. Unfortunately, leading off for the Tigers isn't that big of a value bump, and Maton's 26% K% won't do him any favors in leagues with a strikeout penalty.

On the IL

• Garrett Mitchell, MIL, OF (shoulder subluxation - no timetable)
• Joc Pederson, SF, OF (wrist inflammation - no timetable)
• Ramon Laureano, OAK, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Seth Brown, OAK, 1B/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Chas McCormick, HOU, OF (lower back - expected back when eligible on 4/25)
• Austin Meadows, DET (anxiety - no timetable)
• Jose Siri, TB, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)

Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jonah Heim, TEX, C (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 15%) - I'm not sure how long Heim will stay eligible in this space but he's still somehow here, staying red-hot with home runs in back-to-back games, and four in his past eight games. And just as important, is the oversized playing time he's getting in the absence of Mitch Garver, playing nearly every game as he's only backed up by Sandy Leon.

Next Choices

Gabriel Moreno, ARI, C (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 9%) - Moreno has a 144 APR over the past two weeks and is slashing .318/.348/.500 in his past seven games, with a .369 wOBA. Nothing world-beating yet but Moreno will also three games in Colorado, with two starts coming vs LHP.

Desperate Choices

Christian Bethancourt, TB, C/1B (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 5%) - Bethancourt has a 100 APR over the past two weeks but keep in mind he's likely to only play in four of Tampa's seven games.

On the IL

• Travis d'Arnaud, ATL, C (concussion - no timetable)
• Logan O'Hoppe, LAA, C (shoulder inflammation - no timetable)
• Mitch Garver, TEX, C (sprained knee - no timetable)
• Omar Narvaez, NYM (strained calf - no timetable)

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